Conservation Groups Champion Bill to Reform Biofuel Mandate

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Seeking to break through the deadlocked discussions between oil interests and the corn ethanol industry, conservation groups signaled their strong support for bills introduced today in the U.S. House and Senate to reform the Renewable Fuel Standard and reverse the damage that the law—known as the biofuel mandate—has caused since its enactment in 2007. The mandate has led to the massive loss of habitat, strain on water resources, and increased climate pollution.

The legislation, introduced by Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and Sen. Tom Udall (D-N.M.), calls for long-overdue changes to the biofuel mandate to help the United States support clean fuel goals, while protecting the environment and public health.

“This critical legislation offers common-sense solutions that protect wildlife, drinking water, and public health, while supporting family farms and putting the nation on track to meet its clean fuel goals the right way,” said Collin O’Mara, president and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation. “We thank Rep. Welch and Sen. Udall for their tireless leadership working to reverse the massive grassland losses and growing algal blooms exacerbated by the biofuel mandate—while also moving America toward cleaner, more sustainable fuels. We urge the full House and Senate to pass these bills, before the impacts to America’s wildlife and waterbodies become worse and more costly to solve.”